Lunch at Noryangjin Fish Market

After the morning tour, I asked the guide to drop me off near a station to catch a Line 1 train to Noryangjin Station and have a seafood lunch at the Noryangjin Fish Market (Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market).

Near Seoul StationWelcome!

Opened in 1927 on Uiju-ro, it is one of Korea’s largest seafood markets. The market was moved to the newly constructed building in Noryangjin in 1971.

Market Stalls

There were so many stalls, I didn’t know where to start. It was seafood heaven! Various vendors were selling live fish, crabs, lobsters, shellfish, and a few unfamiliar items.

Giant MusselsThe Shrimp SelectionLive Crabs

Now the seafood is fairly pricey. You can negotiate of course. I was mainly here for the experience, but was getting pretty hungry. You can buy your seafood and have a restaurant out back cook and prepare everything you just bought for a fee.

Big Snails

I had to try one of the most popular items in the market – the live baby octopus.

Live Baby OctopusBy the Pound

I wanted to try the crab as well. I just asked for a small one.

King Crab

They can make sashimi out of the various live fish in the tanks.

Live Fish

StingrayFish Area

I had to try something I’ve never had before. I came upon a tank of bright red sea squirt. I asked for a couple. Why not?

Sea Squirt

AFter buying all my items, the woman at the stall asked a man to bring my food out back. I followed him and he led me to a small restaurant in a basement.

The live baby octopus was still moving and sticking to the plate every time I tried to pick a tentacle up with my chopsticks. It was pretty weird, but the taste is actually very mild. I dipped it in some of the chili sauce for more flavor. Just be careful not to eat too large of a piece, supposedly people have choked on this delicacy before. Check out a clip of the squirmy meal below!